Bush beans? Are they done or having a problem?

ABHanna4d

Chillin' In The Garden
Joined
Sep 24, 2009
Messages
54
Reaction score
0
Points
38
I dont know if my bush beans are done producing and need to be pulled out or if they are having a disease problem that I need to address. We've got about 30 lb of beans already and the harvest is majorly tapering off, but someone told me it was just because of the heat and that if I just continued to water them they would perk back up eventually and start producing again... But they are starting to turn brown and wilt and I dont know what to do??
The weather has been in the high 90s and low 100s the past couple weeks here and Ive been watering as much as I can...but its still hot hot hot!
Thank you all for your help, here are a few pictures of my beans
6520_picture_3502.jpg


6520_picture_3503.jpg
 

digitS'

Garden Master
Joined
Dec 13, 2007
Messages
26,685
Reaction score
32,331
Points
457
Location
border, ID/WA(!)
It looks like they are on their way out.

What do you think about pulling them and replanting more bean seed immediately? Does your 1st frost date allow them 60 days? You can probably get a 2nd crop.

I don't really care to keep the bush beans going for the entire season. Spider mites move in so hard on the beans in late summer. Yes, they can kind of gather their resources, bloom and produce another crop but they take a heck of a beating getting there.

Actually, since green beans are a standard succession crop after all sorts of stuff is harvested - I plant very few beans early. Beans do well at germinating and growing in the heat. Most of bean harvest is scheduled to show up late in the season.

Steve
 

lesa

Garden Master
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
6,645
Reaction score
570
Points
337
Location
ZONE 4 UPSTATE NY
If they were mine I would pull them. You have had a decent harvest from them and I think they are done. You might have time for another crop. Pole beans keep on giving right through the season. The bush beans seem to get a few pickings and that is it. Good luck!
 

bid

Deeply Rooted
Joined
Feb 5, 2009
Messages
548
Reaction score
2
Points
151
Well FWIW, I had similar temps a few weeks ago and had a lot of blossom drop as a result on both pole and bush type beans. Fortunately it cooled off a bit, if you can call high 80's low 90's cool, and they have started producing again this week for me. Unfortunately those temps are climbing back up there to high 90's lower 100's. What kind of beans are they anyway?

Personally I think if you can keep enough water to them to keep them alive, they will produce again when it cools off some. They sure look a bit fried in your photos. Lack of enough water can lead to blossom drop as well. Good luck and hope it cools off soon for you! :)

ETA; Well looks like we were all 3 posting about the same time as none of the previous replies was there when I posted. As there is probably not going to be an end to your hot weather anytime soon, I defer to the wisdom of the previous poster's advice. :)
 

whamby2

Chillin' In The Garden
Joined
May 15, 2010
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
Points
27
Location
Zone 7 Texas
Agree - they look like they may have done all they can do. We have Early Contender Bush Beans and they have been heavy producers. I do have a quesion, though - read somewhere that the first one or two pickings are great in flavor, then successive pickings are much less flavorful - don't know if it was just the power of suggestion or what, but it sure seemed that way to me.
 

vfem

Garden Addicted
Joined
Aug 10, 2008
Messages
7,516
Reaction score
43
Points
242
Location
Fuquay, NC
I agree with everyone here. Its time for them to go. If you have an additional 60 days in your growing season, you should definitely do another planting.
 

patandchickens

Deeply Rooted
Joined
Nov 23, 2007
Messages
2,537
Reaction score
3
Points
153
Location
Ontario, Canada
I'd say at this point they don't owe you anything.

Look at it this way-- you could leave them in and *maybe* get *a bit* more harvest out of them, or remove them and replace them with a succession planting (of whatever's appropriate to your location) and DEFINITELY get a GOOD more harvest from THAT.

(OTOH if you know you're not going to replant anything, may as well leave 'em there, just keep watering them)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat
 

wifezilla

Deeply Rooted
Joined
Mar 19, 2009
Messages
2,252
Reaction score
15
Points
134
Location
Colorado Springs - Zone 4ish
Replant.

I had pea vines that started to look like your beans. I ripped em up and fed the spent vines to the ducks. I replanted with some random bean seeds I had rattling around in the bottom of my seed box.

Next year cukes are going in that spot.
 

ABHanna4d

Chillin' In The Garden
Joined
Sep 24, 2009
Messages
54
Reaction score
0
Points
38
Thank you all so much for your advice. I do think It is their time to go, but I love the idea of replanting...ill check our first frost date and make sure I've got time!
Thank you
 

HunkieDorie23

Deeply Rooted
Joined
Apr 29, 2009
Messages
1,066
Reaction score
36
Points
177
Location
Georgia Bound
Yeah, they are done. Pull and replant and you'll get a fall harvest or pull and till up and add compost to your soil and get ready for fall planting of garlic or onions or something. Beans really only produce for about 3 weeks than die off.
 

Latest posts

Top